Between art and agenda

30 October 2024

What do Villa Tugendhat in Brno, the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, and the Gropiushaus in Berlin have in common (besides being located in cities starting with a 'B')? All of them are icons of Bauhaus architecture. The Bauhaus movement, which emerged in the early 20th century, reshaped modern design and architecture by advocating the principle that "form follows function." Emphasising simplicity and practicality, Bauhaus challenged traditional fine art by integrating applied arts. It blurred the lines between artistry and craftsmanship, arguing that a building could be beautiful just like fine art could be practical.

However, not everyone celebrates Bauhaus. With the movement's 100th anniversary impending, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party submitted a motion titled 'The Wrong Path of Modernism', calling for a critical reassessment of Bauhaus. The party claims that Bauhaus "raped the human need for comfort in every conceivable artistic way."

What many consider a milestone in European cultural integration, the AfD criticises as a "bland homogenisation" of art across Europe. Their call for a "reappraisal" echoes the rhetoric of 1933, when the Nazis shut down Bauhaus, dismissing it as "un-German" for its embrace of progressive ideals. Since Bauhaus was associated with leftist thinkers, including Jewish members, it was an easy target for the Nazis. Many members fled abroad, explaining the international diffusion of the movement. The Nazi crackdown later turned into the infamous 'Degenerate Art' (Entartete Kunst) exhibitions, where the Nazis publicly ridiculed Bauhaus and other modern artworks.